There’s a lot going on this morning. Radio Netherlands is reporting the Supreme Jurist of Iran has ordered his plane prepared in case he must flee the country. Just so we understand, Khamenei never leaves the country — it’s part of the mystique that gives foreign leaders such a thrill in visiting that country.
Khamenei is caught between the horns of a dilemma. On the one hand, he needs a political compromise to end the crisis; on the other hand, he’s left himself no political room for compromise. The Greens are increasingly vocal about his removal. While I doubt he’s ready to flee the country like the Shah (we are very nearly on the anniversary of that event), it definitely makes sense that he’d have the plane dusted off and fueled up.
A word of caution before celebrating all this: it’s just possible the military could step in with a bloody coup, but unlikely. If the regime does fall, it will be interesting to see whether guards and pasdaran leaders flee the country as well.
